The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (Jan 26) paid a heavy-hearted tribute to a man who, perhaps more than anyone else, invented the “modern” BCCI.
Following the passing of Inderjit Singh Bindra in New Delhi at the age of 84 on Sunday (Jan 25), the Board’s leadership issued a rare, comprehensive eulogy, recognising Bindra not just as a former President, but as the visionary who broke the sport’s colonial shackles.
When Bindra wrestled the 1987 World Cup away from England
In their tribute, the BCCI highlighted the “pivotal role” Bindra played alongside Jagmohan Dalmiya. Their greatest feat wasn’t just administrative, it was geopolitical. By wrestling the 1987 World Cup away from England, Bindra proved that the heart of cricket beat in the subcontinent. It was the moment the balance of power shifted forever.
BCCI credits Bindra for “satellite television era”
The Board specifically credited Bindra for unlocking the “satellite television era.” Long before the billion-dollar IPL deals, Bindra saw the potential of broadcast rights. As Vice-President Rajeev Shukla noted, Bindra set the “high benchmark” for how the game could be both financially sustainable and globally dominant.
The Mohali legacy
For fans, his most visible legacy remains the world-class infrastructure in Punjab. The Punjab Cricket Stadium, renamed in his honor in 2015 as the IS Bindra Punjab Cricket Association Stadium Stadium in Mohali, stands as a monument to his 36-year tenure at the state level.
From the current President Mithun Manhas to Secretary Devajit Saikia, the sentiment was unanimous: Bindra didn’t just run the game; he built the systems that continue to serve every player and fan today.
“His (Bindra’s) contributions went far beyond governance as he helped build systems and institutions that continue to serve players, administrators and the game itself to this day. The BCCI mourns the loss of a true stalwart of Indian cricket administration,” Manhas said in an official statement.